Arcade Fire: 18 March 2014 - Bridgeport, CT (Photos)

Arcade Fire flummoxed a lot of people last year when their first show in New York as alter-ego, bobble-head band the Reflektors had a major fake out at the beginning—the initial stage visible proved to be a decoy. However, it was at this same show that the band requested attendees to dress in formal attire or costume, which they whole-heartedly did, even if they were later outraged by the stage stunt.

On their 2014 arena tour, Arcade Fire again asked fans to dress up for the gigs, but fortunately, avoided pulling the stage trick on them again. But they did incorporate a second platform stage during the show and they also performed a cover song by a notable local act—Prince in Minneapolis, Boyz II Men in Philadelphia and John Mayer, well almost, in Connecticut. Including the photo booth and the mariachi band outside the arena floor, plus an after-party of sorts, these moments were only icing on the cake at Arcade Fire’s extravaganza.

Following DJ sets by Kid Koala and Dan Deacon on the second stage at the rear of the floor, the guests, some in formal attire, penguin costumes or Carnival masks didn’t have long to wait as Arcade Fire prepped behind a curtain on the main stage. When the curtain dropped, the epic opening number “Reflektor” kicked off Arcade Fire’s true party.

The band only performed one song from Neon Bible, but incorporated the newer more rhythmic material with older torch-bearers to create a 100-minute set that was both dance friendly and allowed for unabashed rock head-banging. The Haitian influence, as well as that of LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, is the basis of The Reflektor material and “We Exist”, “Afterlife” and “Here Comes the Night Time” all glimmered brightly. “Neighborhood #3”, “Sprawl II” and “Wake Up” are each epics in their own right and with the latter being the finale on this tour. If you are looking for a ton off of Funeral, that bombastic era of Arcade Fire has been set aside (for now?).

As mentioned, Arcade Fire had been doing unique covers on each tour night, and while they did incorporate Prince’s “Controversy” into this show, it might have been because they had failed to come up with a notable Connecticut act to cover. After the set break, the bobbleheaded Reflektors took to the second stage as John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland” came on over the PA. But it wasn’t a live rendition; the real Arcade Fire interrupted the sham act from the main stage asking why they weren’t playing Hatebreed instead. Win Butler even mentioned a dream of his in which he met John Mayer and the guitarist tells him he doesn’t like Butler’s playing, to which dream Butler replies the same.

As far as the show went, it was a grand experience and one with something for everyone. Even though all are invited to the party (if you pay the ticket price), you have to just enjoy yourself, even if that means missing out on some antics or taking in the scene with your own eyes. If you surrounded the fake stage at the break anticipating antics—you got the Mayer “cover” but may have missed the real band and Butler’s dream story. During “It’s Never Over” if you looked at Regine Chassagne and the skeleton on the second stage, you lost the experience of the main stage but unlike in Orpheus’s tale, this lady returned to the main stage (“Supersymmetry” allowed some of the band to split off and perform on the second stage too). Put your camera phones away and savor the moment—lest Butler take your phone and make random calls on it (as he did with one furry’s phone in Bridgeport). And don’t be shy, given their last full tour was a couple years ago, you ought to celebrate with Arcade Fire now.

[PS - Bridgeport’s Arena hardly ever gets bands as far as I remember, its more a place to catch skating, the circus or other affairs, so it was great to see a band of Arcade Fire’s caliber perform there. Unfortunately, post-show, one of the bobble-head masks was stolen, which hopefully doesn’t put a damper on the band’s tour or the future plans of a band wishing to perform in the city.]